Bladnoch 10 Year Old Bourbon Cask

Back when the Armstrong brothers owned this Lowland distillery, I was a big fan. They released mostly single barrel bottlings of 10, 11 and 12 YO whisky, some lightly peated, mostly sherry cask matured, and you never quite know what you would get when you opened the bottle, but it was usually good.

This expression is likely the product of the most recent owners, I believe a Yoghurt tycoon from Australia. In December 2022, @fiddich1980 brought this bottle to a tasting and we opened it that night. The sample was poured at the same time (see how behind I am in my sample reviews?). What is interesting about this expression is that it is matured in a bourbon cask. Let’s see how that turned out.

This expression is reviewed in a standard Glencairn in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting.

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Nose: 21/25

Sweet, fruity nose. Cinnamon. Red Delicious apple. Hint of flower shop when you open one of the fridges. Slightly spirity, almost a paint thinner quality in the background.Water adds sharpness to the nose. Less sweet, more sour, hints of apple cider vinegar. I prefer the nose without water. (20/25)

Taste: 20/25

Thin mouthfeel. Astringent. Sour. Peppery. Bitter. Hint of vanilla in the background. Water makes it more bitter and most unpleasant. (17/25)

Finish: 19/25

Bitter, pepper, short. No change with water.

Balance: 20/25

The palate does not deliver on the nose. With water this becomes very unbalanced. (17/25)

Score: Neat - 80 /100 With Water: 73 /100

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I’m probably biased. I really like the Armstrong era Blanch and I probably am bitter that the new owners did not continue in the same tradition. While the ABV is decent, the body and mouthfeel of this expression are not as substantial as they could be. At 10 YO, I don’t think the spirit has had enough time to become complex. With water today, this became undrinkable.

I will save the rest of the sample and come back to it another day to see if my impression changes. That has happened in the past with some samples.

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Thanks again @Fiddich1980 for giving me the opportunity to review this one!

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